PENTICTON - The South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation is pleased to announce the hiring of its new executive-director.

Carey Bornn has an extensive background in fundraising, including previous positions with the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation in Vancouver and the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation in New Westminster. Most recently he has served as Director of Development, Legacy Giving and Major Gifts with the University of Calgary.

Bornn will officially begin his new duties with the SOS Medical Foundation on Sept. 19.

His hiring comes as the foundation is off to a very successful start in its $20 million fundraising campaign to provide medical equipment for the Penticton Regional Hospital expansion.

Walter Despot, chair of the Foundation board, pointed to Bornn’s experience and new ideas as the foundation moves forward.

“He has the expertise and enthusiasm to lead us to the successful conclusion of our current campaign and into the future – ensuring quality health care for the entire South Okanagan-Similkameen,” Despot said.

Vice chair Gerry Ryan, who headed the Foundation’s search committee, said Bornn stood out from among the several candidates interviewed for the position.
“We were impressed with the breadth of his resume and his personal determination as demonstrated through the challenges he has assumed in the past,” Ryan said.

The hiring comes as construction begins on the $312.5 million Patient Care Tower project at PRH. The new six-storey tower, which will bring outpatient care services into one building and include 84 new single bed patient rooms, will be ready by early 2019.

Work then begins on Phase 2, a major expansion of the hospital’s Emergency Department.

OPINION Editor, This is a busy time of year, but I find it’s also a time of reflection, particularly as January marks the end of my two-year term as Chair and my 10 years serving on the Board of Interior